Small Space Highchairs
Baby West is now ten (TEN!) months old. As such, he's at a point where he's feeding himself, and drinking from sippy cups and glass bottles. This means that mealtimes are a complete and total mess-- but they're also (honestly) a complete and total joy. A few items have proven themselves to be extremely practical for feeding our son in our tiny home, and on-the-go.
This is ridiculous, but we actually have TWO highchairs here at the Cottage-- the reason being that they were gifted to us, and we decided to hold on to both for an upcoming project we're working on (and excited to share in the near future). We like each chair for different reasons. Perhaps one might be right for you, depending on your particular needs and space.
We have: The folding NANO highchair from Bloom. We like it because it folds up, and sits slenderly against our Dutch Door when not in use. It also comes with everything needed (safety harness, removable, machine-washable tray, seat cover, and foot rest), so it's nearly ready-to-go out of the box. The downside is that it's a bit tricky to deep-clean in certain spots, but we still use it daily. It's the perfect counter-height, so we pull it up to our breakfast bar and enjoy meals there alongside our son. I recommend it to anyone living in a standard small space.
We also have: The Stokke Steps Chair, which we use less frequently, but really love. It's a clever and streamlined system. We like it because it will grow with West, so we won't have to buy different dining chairs for him as he gets older. It's also very easy to clean, and beautifully designed. We use it when we convert the living space into a dining space for entertaining. The add-on tray is the perfect place for West's meal, or for his books and suction-cup toys. The downside is that it doesn't fold up, so we ran into it constantly when we used it full-time. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a design-savvy, adaptable highchair that they can use for years to come.
We've also used and recommend: The Lobster Portable Highchair, and the Space-Saver High Chair. These are two products we've tried elsewhere, and believe they would work particularly well for micro-space dwellers, and/or for the grandparents' house.
Another small space lifesaver is the Gathre Mat. These mats come in a variety of colors and sizes, including one design that's intended for use beneath a highchair. We ALWAYS use one under West's chair if he's eating. It prevents his food mess from getting all over the floor. They're stylish, easy to store, and only take a moment to wipe clean.
Our other favorite baby-feeding tools aren't necessarily small-space specific, but since they are always visible (whether on the drying rack or in their standard storage places when not in use), we selected them for both their look and how they function:
